There is nothing causal about direct contact with God – there is nothing causal about God. Here, the prophet Isaiah shares his extraordinary vision that he received from God; a vision that enlarged his existing ministry as prophet. In this vision he beheld the glory of the Lord in the temple in heaven. Convicted of his own sin, he confessed it aloud, and immediately, cleansing to minister God’s word took place. A celestial being touched his lips with a hot coal, using a tong. For what was too hot for an angelic being, was not for God’s prophet who brought a serious message full of satire, in hopes of reaching the people for God.
Meals for Hell
The prophet attempts to reach the apostate Jews in Judah with a parabolic song. Metaphorically the Promised Land of Israel is the vineyard and the people are the vine to produce fruit. The Lord did all that could be done for the people to be a fruitful people to Him but because of their apostasy and idolatry they produced only foul fruit. Join to this were the consequences of their disobedience pronounce in seven woes. The prophet told them that Hell (Sheol) could consume them, the wicked would be meals for Hell.
Ruined Remedies
With satire and caricature, the prophet tried to reach the people in Judah who have either turned their backs on Yahweh completely or have mingled idols into their understanding of Yahweh, both in violation of their ten commandments. Yahweh sent the prophets to stop these egregious sins, the remedies were simple, obey. But they ruined this and behaved in arrogance and evil, ruining remedies given by God.
Israel’s Future Hope
This section begins with the prophet sharing a vision of Israel’s future kingdom under the rule of the Messiah, who we know is Jesus Christ. Then the prophet once again addressed the sin in the land, the idolatry, the immorality and arrogance. This brought the call for accountability and judgment, along with an order to separate from those separated from God by their apostasy, idolatry and arrogance.
Twofaced Artificial Religion
Isaiah delivers an indictment against those in Judah who are carefree about outward devotion with inward disobedience. Full of satire and rebuke the message from God is delivered without leaving doubt as to the severity of their twofaced, artificial religion, which essentially rendered God to a status of a mascot. God asks the guilty, “What is the point of religion when the God of that religion is disrespected?” Then comes the offer to resolve this and finally a lamentation over what God’s people could have been but refused to be.
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